Injection vs Combined pill

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Injection

Add your Injection review

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 2.9

278 reviews

Every 2-3 months

Frequency

94% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2510 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Injection ingredients

Main hormones in Injection

progestogen


Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

32% somewhat negative

70% stopped periods

57% lost sex drive

49% gained weight

51% no impact on skin

Cycle return

42% don’t know impact

32% somewhat negative

48% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

44% improved skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Period pain

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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Add your Injection review

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Injection reviews

278 reviews

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Noristerat injection  

As a newer young and childless nuristrate injection patient I don't recommend it for use . So far my body is experiencing a hell of changes . Irregular periods ,green smelly discharge and ugly acne

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Dec 24

Noristerat injection  

Its a right contraception but it stopped my periods since I was young end now I'm struggling to conceive end I think I'm running out of time and my marriage it's on thin ice here so I don't think that someone can still use it


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Dec 24

Depo-Provera injection  

Great that it stopped my period completely, only have to remember to have it every 12 weeks


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Noristerat injection  

As a newer young and childless nuristrate injection patient I don't recommend it for use . So far my body is experiencing a hell of changes . Irregular periods ,green smelly discharge and ugly acne


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Dec 24

Noristerat injection  

Its a right contraception but it stopped my periods since I was young end now I'm struggling to conceive end I think I'm running out of time and my marriage it's on thin ice here so I don't think that someone can still use it


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Dec 24

Depo-Provera injection  

Great that it stopped my period completely, only have to remember to have it every 12 weeks


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2510 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Yasmin pill  

It works better for me than others


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Drovelis pill  

I was on hormonal birth control methods for 10 years with nothing had bad experiences. I’d come off all methods and had given up until I saw Drovelis on The Lowdown and decided to give it a shot because of the low side effects listed. And I’m so glad I did. No breakthrough bleeding, weight loss, no changes to my sex drive, only minimal breakouts which is a miracle compared to the other methods. The Lowdown has given me my bodily autonomy back with their suggestions and articles and I can certainly say I’ll never go back off this pill!


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Drovelis pill  

I started taking it on the first day of my period, it lasted 13 days (normally would last 5 days)then gave me a break for 4 days then bled the whole time on that pill, 24 days bleeding in total, once i started the white sugar pills my bleeding died down and finally stopped, im off of it now (only for a month) and i havent bled once, not even spotting, ill go back on it next month to see if i bleed again from it


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Yasmin pill  

It works better for me than others


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Drovelis pill  

I was on hormonal birth control methods for 10 years with nothing had bad experiences. I’d come off all methods and had given up until I saw Drovelis on The Lowdown and decided to give it a shot because of the low side effects listed. And I’m so glad I did. No breakthrough bleeding, weight loss, no changes to my sex drive, only minimal breakouts which is a miracle compared to the other methods. The Lowdown has given me my bodily autonomy back with their suggestions and articles and I can certainly say I’ll never go back off this pill!


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Drovelis pill  

I started taking it on the first day of my period, it lasted 13 days (normally would last 5 days)then gave me a break for 4 days then bled the whole time on that pill, 24 days bleeding in total, once i started the white sugar pills my bleeding died down and finally stopped, im off of it now (only for a month) and i havent bled once, not even spotting, ill go back on it next month to see if i bleed again from it


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Zoely pill  

Although I haven’t been taking this pill for very long, I did quickly notice a major improvement in my moods. I tolerated Estelle ED pretty well, but Yaz made me severely depressed and suicidal.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

The first week of taking this pill made me feel extremely nauseous and unwell to the point I couldn’t get out of bed. I gained 10kg in 5 months on this pill. It made my so hungry all the time. It did help my painful periods and made them more manageable but i was putting on weight at an uncontrollable pace so I had to stop this pill.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Loestrin 30 pill  

I took this pill for 3 years total with a year’s break after the first year of taking it. Finally made my period bearable for the first time in my life. The withdrawal bleed was lighter and much less painful. It made my anxiety worse and I gained around 3 kilos but it was worth it. I’m gutted it is no longer available. I’ve been searching for a suitable alternative for 4 years but have not been successful yet.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Maexeni pill  

I was on this pill for 4 years and I used to swear by it. Got put on it when I was 16 and it didn’t have much effect on anything other than being slightly more emotional and having larger boobs. GP tried to change me over to microgygon which gave me HORRIBLE side effects as they stopped providing Maexeni. Overall great pill, periods were very regular after about 6 months, skin was clear and mood swings were not terrible


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

Was an okay pill, had been taking for around a year if not longer but I got pregnant on this pill so am now changing pill type/brand


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

Didn’t like being on this pill. Caused vaginal dryness to the point where sex hurt. Libido on the floor, so low!!!


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yacella pill  

It has helped my skin a bit


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Injection with other contraceptives

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